I worked at The Claridge theater for a few years in the mid 1970’s when it was still a one screen theater. The paneled Cinerama screen was still being used and was bright and clear as ever. Behind the Cinerama screen was a stage and several dressing rooms. I managed to find some programs from the Cinerama era and other items stored in the dressing rooms. I remember running features for a long time, several months sometimes. We premiered ‘Jaws’ there in June 1975 and it ran through December. By the way, Peter Benchley (Jaws author) came to the Claridge on opening night. I have been there a few times since the six screen conversion and get upset walking in and remembering where things used to be. The Claridge was selected as New Jersey’s Cinerama theater because it had a smoking lounge one flight up, between the restrooms (remember the marble stairs). This lounge was converted to the projection room because it had a straight shot to the screen. With three projectors you couldn’t project downward because of the keystone effect. The forth Cinerama machine (for audio) was another flight up in the original projection room. Most of the original equipment was there when I worked there, it was great. The same owner also had the Wellmont in Montclair, a larger and more ornate theater. I recall it having 1700 seats (800 downstairs and a 900 seat balcony). This theater is in limbo right now, I hope something good will come out of it. We were talking about bringing in live concerts there as far back as back in 1975!
I worked at The Claridge theater for a few years in the mid 1970’s when it was still a one screen theater. The paneled Cinerama screen was still being used and was bright and clear as ever. Behind the Cinerama screen was a stage and several dressing rooms. I managed to find some programs from the Cinerama era and other items stored in the dressing rooms. I remember running features for a long time, several months sometimes. We premiered ‘Jaws’ there in June 1975 and it ran through December. By the way, Peter Benchley (Jaws author) came to the Claridge on opening night. I have been there a few times since the six screen conversion and get upset walking in and remembering where things used to be. The Claridge was selected as New Jersey’s Cinerama theater because it had a smoking lounge one flight up, between the restrooms (remember the marble stairs). This lounge was converted to the projection room because it had a straight shot to the screen. With three projectors you couldn’t project downward because of the keystone effect. The forth Cinerama machine (for audio) was another flight up in the original projection room. Most of the original equipment was there when I worked there, it was great. The same owner also had the Wellmont in Montclair, a larger and more ornate theater. I recall it having 1700 seats (800 downstairs and a 900 seat balcony). This theater is in limbo right now, I hope something good will come out of it. We were talking about bringing in live concerts there as far back as back in 1975!